LAGOS PHOTO PROJECT

AZU THE CURATOR OF AAF

LAGOS PHOTO PROJECT

BY ESTHER EGBE

THE African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of African art and artists, as well as the promotion of social and public health issues through artistic endeavors. The office is based in Ikoyi, Lagos.

News man gathered that the AAF serves a significant role in the art and academic communities through its organization of exhibitions, competitions and workshops with the aim of unearthing talent and increasing social awareness through the use of art in Nigeria. A few projects and Exhibitions held by the AAF include: “This is Lagos”, a unique exhibition featuring sound installations and paintings, in what was both censure and celebration of the great city of Lagos; “Driver’s Dexterity” in partnership with Shell Nigeria, a photographic exhibition of images by internationally renowned Nigerian photographer GeorgeGeorge Osodi aimed at raising awareness of the issue of road safety in Nigeria; the now annual National Arts Competition organized in partnership with Nigerian Breweries Nigeria Plc to unearth emerging artistic talent in our society; and a female-only exhibition titled “50 Years Ahead; Through the Eyes of Nigerian Women” in partnership with the Dutch embassy, Schlumberger Nigeria Limited, and the Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja, as part of our five-year female artists’ developmental project. . The Curator of AAF

The Curator and Director of AAF, Mr. Azu Nwagbogu said that In October 2010, the AAF intends to organize, in Lagos, the first major photography festival in Nigeria. Titled Lagos Photo, this project will herald the first of annual photography festivals to take place all over Nigeria.

The Project Coordinator Liason, Tinuke Olu explained that by use of readily available public spaces, the Lagos Photo project aims to establish a community for contemporary photography, which will unite local and international artists through images that encapsulate individual experiences and identities from across all of Africa.

Olu said the that the exhibition will feature images from Nigeria’s finest and award winning photographers, as well as images from renowned international artists that capture the essence of Lagos state from a holistic and historical perspective. Believing that reflection into the past is crucial to the building of a strong foundation upon which the present may grow, the images in the proposed exhibition will juxtapose historical images of the city with more recent ones, thereby illustrating the significant improvements of recent years. The AAF hopes to remind Lagosians of their history, even as we recognize the need for the sustenance of developments made in the present for the sake of our future.

Source gathered that the Lagos Photo will present and educate about photography as it is embodied in: education, photojournalism, the exploration of historical and contemporary social issues, the sharing of cultural practices, and the promotion of social programs, through a series of art workshops that will run alongside the major outdoor exhibition. “The Lagos Photo community will utilize online networking platforms in addition to having an official website, in order to ensure a lasting and global connection”.

African Artists' Foundation said that the presents festival is the first annual photography festival in the history of Nigeria. Titled 'Lagos Photo', this event is sponsored by the Mondriaan Foundation, the Dutch Embassy, and is supported by the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Eko hotel and suites, the British Council, the Civic Center, Center for Contemporary Art Lagos (CCA), Nigerian Breweries Plc, the Lagos State government. Azu role as Curator and artistic director of this first edition of the Lagos photo festival explains: “an exhibition of this magnitude is impossible for one person to organize”. Mr. Nwagbogu will work with Marc Prust, a photographer, curator based in Paris and Mr. Kunle Adeyemi, an architect based in Amsterdam as fellow artistic directors and with Caline Chagoury as co-curator and exhibiting artist to ensure that all levels of photography are represented. The festival also aims to show the current position with regards to contemporary photography from Africa.

Mr. Nwagbogu states: “The impressions and information received throughout the world about Africa have largely been through: written text in Literature; photography; and film. It is important that we Africans develop the tools of international story telling using these very same mediums to narrate our own stories from our own perspectives to the rest of the world”.

He went further to explain the role of photography in polishing the image of Nigeria: “In Nigeria today there is a lot of talk of "re-branding" to promote our nation. The African Artists' Foundation takes a slightly different view. Our view is that there is a need to brand those positive aspects of the lifestyle, people, stories and cultures of our people rather than propagandizing an expensive re-branding agenda. In essence what we are saying is that there are several heroes working in and around Nigeria doing fantastic jobs without any support from the Government and there is a need to support and promote them. The most well know Nigerians today are not politicians but artists. Fela Anikulapo KutiFela Anikulapo Kuti is definitely the most recognizable Nigerian, living or dead, on the world scene but back home leading brands and multinationals are not even interested in supporting his music legacy. Perhaps they are waiting for the Government to show some much needed leadership in this regard.”

THE CURATOR OF AAF

AAF told said that the festival which will last for at least a month will feature a master’s class in photography, a workshop for young children, a series of indoor exhibitions, as well as cutting-edge outdoor exhibitions at select public locations throughout the city of Lagos. These public spaces include the Muri Okunola Park -Victoria Island, Kudirat Abiola Round About - Oregun Ikeja, Awolowo road roundabout - Ikoyi, and Professor Ayodele Awojobi Park - Onike Yaba.

The feature images from renowned international artists as well as images from Nigeria’s finest and emerging photographers. These artists include: George Osodi, Kadir van Lohuizen, Lard Buurman, Juul Hondius, Hans Wilschut, Viviane Sassen, Andrea Sultiens, Henk Wildschut, Natasha Libbert, Jan-Joseph Stok, Mario Macilau, Angele Essamba, Edgar Cleijne, Anoek Steketee, Aisha Dapchi, Emeke Obanor, Olayinka Stephens, Tam Fiofori, Adolphus Opara, Andrew Esiebo, Akintunde Akinleye, Cristina Baldan, Lara ter Veen, Toye Gbade and Caline Chagoury.

AAF said that the Opening ceremony activities: Children’s workshop facilitated by George Osodi 13, 20 and 27 September. Private preview at Eko Hotel and Suites 8th October, Artists’ symposium (Open to general public) 9th October, Opening ceremony gala ,10th October, Master’s class facilitated by Dutch artists 11-26 October.

It was review that the festivals framework that emphasizes a diverse educational approach to photography, as well as the presentation of an international collection of world-class photography via both its online community and its annual events/festival. The innovative and community oriented nature of its exhibitions and its ability to distinctly represent Africa to the world, will engage the attention of the world’s art lovers, cultural enthusiasts, and media. This expected enthusiasm by both the international artistic and media communities will establish Lagos Photo as of one of Africa’s and the world’s most notable artistic undertakings.